On 21 October 1944, HMAS Australia was supporting the landings in Leyte Gulf. Off Leyte Island, gunners from HMAS Australia and HMAS Shropshire fired at and hit a Japanese aircraft. Initially, the plane flew away from the ships, but it subsequently turned and dived into Australia. The plane struck the superstructure of the Australia above the bridge. Although the 200 kg (440 pound) bomb carried by the plane failed to explode, burning fuel and debris were spewed over a large area. Dechaineux was disembowelled by shrapnel and died a few hours later. He was buried at sea that night. Another 30 crew members died as a result of the attack; among the wounded was Commodore Collins. The US government posthumously appointed Dechaineux an Officer of the Legion of Merit. In 1990 the Australian government announced that a new Collins-class submarine would be named HMAS Dechaineux in his memory. It was launched in 1998 in the presence of Dechaineux's widow, Mary Purbrick, and his son, former RAN Commodore Peter Dechaineux. Honours and awards Captain Emile Dechaineux was decorated with the following honours: References External links Australian War Memorial, "Captain Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux" 1902 births 1944 deaths Graduates of the Royal Australian Naval College People who died at sea Burials at sea Royal Australian Navy personnel of World War II People from Launceston, Tasmania Australian military personnel killed in World War II Deaths by airstrike during World War II Officers of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) Australian people of Belgian descent